The rivalry between the New Westminster Salmonbellies and the B.C. champion Coquitlam Adanacs took another next step with a 9-7 victory for the host club on Day 2 of the Minto Cup at Queen's Park Arena on Sunday. A win by New West tomorrow against Okotoks Raiders, who were bombed 18-4 by the Whitby Warriors in the earlier game today, would ensure a berth in the next round for the junior A 'Bellies.
Jimmy McBride broke open a 2-2 deadlock in the opening minute of the second period off a transition goal from keeper Frank Scigliano, who rebounded from a less than stellar start against Whitby with a solid outing against the A's, stopping 31 shots in the win.
New West took advantage of an abundance of penalty calls in the period, outscoring Coquitlam 5-2 in the period including power-play goals by Jeremy Bosher and Josh Byrne, with his second goal of the game. Connor Robinson tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal five minutes into the final frame, spinning out of a scrum of Adanac defenders and firing a screened shot by Coquitlam starter Davide DiRuscio.
A minute later Brendan Ranford came off the bench and scored on a break to put the junior 'Bellies up by five goals.
Peter Dubenski came on in relief of DiRuscio and was unscored upon, but the change was too little, too late for the A's, despite a pair of goals in the final minute of play by Reid Reinholdt and Cole Shafer. Tyler Pace, with two goals and two assists, was named Coquitlam's game MVP. Eli McLaughlin, also with two goals in a four-point outing for New West, was the other game MVP.
Tonight's game was the ninth this season for the two teams, with New West taking a 5-4 edge by virtue of tonight's win. "It was a big deal coming in tonight and getting the series lead," said McBride after the game. "After losing to Whitby we had to look at the basics and fundamentals and I think we did that tonight."
In the earlier game, Whitby got goals from faceoff specialist Patrick McCrory in the opening minute of each of the first and third periods enroute to the one-sided win over the Raiders at Queen's Park. Dan Lintner, who had five goals the day before in Whitby's 11-5 win over New West, tallied another five times in a game-high seven-point outing. Ryan Keenan and Michael Mac Donald both chipped in with hat tricks for the winners. Austin Shanks, with a goal and three helpers, was named the Warriors' MVP.
Brett Baron, with a pair of markers, was the MVP for the Warriors. On Monday, Okotoks will take on New West in early Day 3 action at 5 p.m. at Queen's Park. Whitby and Coquitlam go at it in the late game at 8 p.m.
